Simple tips to prevent falls from Right at Home North Somerset

Did you know that falls are the largest cause of emergency hospital admissions among those aged 65 and over?

The risk of falls becomes more common as we grow older, as our muscles and bones lose strength and weaken. The impact of falls can be more serious for elderly people, but thankfully there are lots of ways we can help prevent falls in and around the home.Making small changes around the home or to yours or a loved-ones routine can help prevent future falls.

At Right at Home North Somerset, our CareGivers strive to support our Clients and their families to prevent falls at home across the North Somerset area. 

It’s important you speak to your GP if you are concerned about the risk of falls. They take falls in elderly people very seriously, as they can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing.

Here are some tips from the team at Right at Home North Somerset to help prevent falls at home: 

There are many ways you can make your home safer and prevent falls. From small changes to your home to slight changes in your daily routine.

 

Improve visibility & lighting in the home to prevent falls

Low lighting in the home can make it hard to notice fall hazards and a lack of visibility can reduce your balance. To improve visibility at home consider: 

• Adding additional lighting throughout the home, particularly in rooms that are darker
• Replace yellow light bulbs with white light and use high wattage light bulbs
• Consider installing motion-sensor lights on stairs, steps and outside your house where visibility lacks
• Increase stairway lighting to reduce any shadows that may cause visual confusion

 

Reduce clutter and fall hazards within your home

Having lots of clutter around can make it difficult to navigate your home and may increase the chance of falling. To reduce clutter and improve organisation throughout your house, you can: 

• Keep items that are not used regularly in wardrobes or cupboards with clearly labelled storage boxes
• Ensure curtains don’t trail on the floor
• Rearrange cupboards into a system that makes sense to your routine. For example, keep foods that you may eat often in an easily accessible cupboard 
• Remove clutter and obstacles from regularly used pathways throughout your home
• Clean up spillages immediately, and place a water absorbent, non-skid mat in front of sinks, baths and showers

 

Take care when you get up from chairs and out of bed

Getting up too quickly or going from a relaxed position to moving around can make you lightheaded. Your muscles can also seize up as you’ve been stationary, so sometimes it is initially harder to move. 

When getting out of bed or up from chairs: 

• Take your time. Rushing could cause head rush, make you dizzy and therefore more likely to fall
• Consider chairs or sofas that offer more support and stability, including sturdy armrests
• Keep a walking stick close by and use it to assist you as you get up
• Avoid excess pillows on the bed that could fall onto the floor at the night
• Keep clutter away from side tables in case you need to use them for extra support when standing
• Put your bedside lamp on before standing up to provide extra visibility

 

Wear suitable clothes and footwear 

The type of clothing and shoes you wear may increase your risk of falling. To avoid this: 

• Don’t wear loose-fitting clothes that may trip you up - use your local North Somerset tailors to alter any clothing that may be too long
• Avoid long necklaces or scarfs that could get caught on items
• Choose socks with rubber grips on the sole
• Wear well fitting shoes with a good grip, and consider a shoe horn to make putting them on easier  
• Choose shoes which provide room for thick socks in cold weather to keep your feet warm and allow for good circulation and feeling in your feet
• Choose slippers with good grip on the soles, backs and velcro fastenings
• Maintain good foot health by trimming toenails regularly, and visit your local chiropodist to ensure your feet remain in good health

 

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

The food and drink we consume directly affects our physical and mental health, so it’s important to maintain a balanced diet at any age.

Here are some manageable changes you can make to your diet that can be directly linked to falls. However, you can find lots more information about what a balanced diet looks like on our Healthy Eating page

• Keep on top of your Vitamin D levels - Being unable to get outside regularly, especially in the winter months, can cause a Vitamin D deficiency due to a lack of exposure to sunlight. This can cause bones to become thin, brittle, weak or misshapen. Talk to a health professional about Vitamin D supplements which can be a simple solution.
• Stay hydrated - There are many reasons why older adults may become dehydrated, such as forgetting to drink enough or not feeling thirsty. Keeping a water bottle with you throughout the day can be an easy reminder to drink more water. Try alternating your beverages between water, flavoured water or dilutes if you struggle to keep up with your water intake.
• Increase your protein intake - Protein helps build muscle and keep muscles strong, but it can be difficult to get enough protein in your diet. Take a look at the NHS website which contains plenty of information on how you can incorporate more protein into a healthy, balanced diet. 
• Engaging in regular physical activity helps improve your strength and balance, so exercising regularly is a must. Try activities such as walking or some short exercise programmes such as 10 minute pilates or chair yoga. These are great exercises to improve muscle strength and reduce the risk of falling.

 

How can Right at Home North Somerset help with the prevention of falls at home? 

Here at Right at Home North Somerset, as part of our initial care assessment, we carry out a risk assessment. This assessment is to mitigate risks and make recommendations that can support the safety of our Clients living at home, as well as understand how best our team of CareGivers can support you.

For more information about our care services or to book a homecare assessment, contact us today on 01934 235410.